Seat device for supporting a sitting person

ABSTRACT

A seat device for supporting a sitting person includes: a first movably supported partial seat for supporting the person and a second partial seat for supporting the person, which is movably supported independently of the first partial seat and which can be combined with the first partial seat to form a whole seat. In order to enable better sitting, for each partial seat a pivot bearing spring device is provided, said pivot bearing spring device having a first pivot axis extending in a longitudinal direction, about which the respective partial seat can be pivoted while sprung with a first spring constant, and a second pivot axis extending in a transverse direction, about which the respective partial seat can be pivoted while sprung with a second spring constant, wherein each partial seat is associated with the respective pivot bearing spring device by means of a lever arm.

The invention relates to a seat device for supporting a sitting person,with a first movably supported partial seat for supporting the personand a second partial seat for supporting the person, which is movablysupported independently of the first partial seat and which can becombined with the first partial seat to form a whole seat.

Seat devices with partial seats for supporting a sitting person areknown. The person can sit onto both partial seats, in which the partialseats can support the person independently of each other. WO 93/19648relates to an actively dynamic seat device, comprising a foot part, anintermediate piece connected with the foot part and a seat partconnected with the intermediate piece, whereby the seat part has twoparts.

The seat halves are independent from each other, mainly connectedvertically with the intermediate piece via a spring and each has acarrier part and a seat half affixed to it. Each seat half is supportedonto the carrier part, tiltable to the front and back. WO 99/16335 A1publishes a seat with a pair of seat bodies, which both have a verticalmovement as well as a rocking movement to the front and back. Anadjustable stiff seat arrangement with sensors is known from the US2003/0073552 A1, whose framework supports the entire body of the userand allows for resistance exercises.

The task of the invention is to allow for better sitting and/or lying,i.e. fatigueless and especially comfortable sitting and/or lying.

In order to serve this task, in a seat device for supporting a sittingperson, with a first movably supported partial seat for supporting theperson and a second partial seat for supporting the person, which ismovably supported independently of the first partial seat and which canbe combined with the first partial seat to form a whole seat, for eachpartial seat a pivot bearing spring device is provided, said pivotbearing spring device having a first pivot axis extending in alongitudinal direction, about which the respective partial seat can bepivoted while sprung with a first spring constant, and a second pivotaxis extending in a transverse direction, about which the respectivepartial seat can be pivoted while sprung with a second spring constant,whereby each partial seat is associated with the respective pivotbearing spring device by means of a lever arm.

The person can sit such that the left half of the body is supported orplaced onto the first partial seat and the right half of the body issupported or placed onto the second partial seat. Advantageously, twodegrees of flexibility are given for every partial seat, whereby anespecially relaxed and comfortable sitting is possible. Different springstiffnesses can be implemented for these degrees of flexibility usingthe pivot bearing spring devices associated with the partial seats.

It is, for example, possible to allow for swinging to the front andback, i.e. a rocking movement of the person with comparatively lowresistance. This can be easily controlled by the sitting person byplacing his/her feet onto a base, on which the seat device is arranged.Swinging movements to the right and left can e.g. take place with aconsiderably greater stiffness; this lends the sitting person a higherdegree of safety, whereby relaxed and free sitting is still possible,since the left and the right halves of the person's body are supportedindependently of each other.

In case of exemplary implementations of the seat device, each of thepivot bearing spring devices has a first elastic bearing and a secondelastic bearing arranged near the first elastic bearing, whereby theelastic bearings are arranged adjacent to each other such that the firstswivel axis runs between the elastic bearings and the second swivel axisruns through the elastic bearings. Elastic bearings can e.g. refer to arubber bearing, especially with elastomer as spring material. It ishowever also possible to use a spiral spring as elastic bearing. Theelastic bearings arranged adjacent to each other can implement differentspring stiffnesses of the swivel axes of the pivot bearing springdevices of the partial seats.

A rocking movement of the person to the front and back, i.e. swinging ofthe partial seats around the second swivel axis can take place with lessspring stiffness as compared to a rocking movement to the right andleft, in connection with a swinging movement of the partial seats aroundthe first swivel axis. Also, the individual elastic bearings of thepivot bearing spring device can be identical or different, e.g. inlength, shape and/or elasticity. In a preferred form of implementation,the two lateral elastic bearings can have spring stiffnesses differentfrom the two medial elastic bearings.

In other exemplary implementations of the seat device, the first elasticbearing is associated with a first partial lever arm of the lever armand the second elastic bearing with a second partial lever arm of thelever arm. Each of the partial lever arms can be supported separately bymeans of the respective associated elastic bearing.

In other exemplary implementations of the seat device, for every partialseat, a pivot bearing is provided for turning the partial seats around athird swivel axis running in the vertical direction. The partial seatshave a third degree of flexibility corresponding with the pivot bearing.The seat device can follow an opening and closing or spreading movementof the person's legs.

In other exemplary implementations of the seat device, the respectivepivot bearing is arranged below the elastic bearing of the respectivepivot bearing spring device. Swinging movements around the first and/orthe second swivel axis can thus be converted into rocking movements ofthe person by means of the lever arm. By means of the pivot bearing, theelastic bearings arranged above it, the lever arms as well as thepartial seats can be swung together around the respective third swivelaxis.

In other exemplary implementations of the seat device, the pivotbearings associated with the partial seats are associated with a commonbase plate. The base plate can e.g. be designed as a cross brace and cantake in the bearing loads required for supporting the person.

In other exemplary implementations of the seat device, the base platecan be rotated, by means of a spring device, around an axis of rotationrunning in the vertical direction, can be adjusted in height along thisaxis and/or is spring-supported. The function of a height-adjustable andspring-supported swivel chair can be implemented by means of the springdevice. For this, the spring device can e.g. have a gas spring.

In case of a seat device for supporting a sitting person, with a firstmovably supported partial seat for supporting the person and a secondpartial seat for supporting the person, which is movably supportedindependently of the first partial seat and which can be combined withthe first partial seat to form a whole seat, the task is also served byrelatively movably supporting the first partial seat by means of a firstsuspension and the second partial seat by means of a second suspension,whereby each of the suspensions has at least three partial seat elasticbearings. A labile support can be provided for every partial seat, i.e.for every half of the body of the sitting person; this demands constantsmall adjustment movements for a natural position control of the sittingperson. It was revealed that the sitting person finds this especiallycomfortable and relaxed. Here, relatively movable can refer to a supportof the respective partial seat with multiple degrees of flexibility,e.g. up to six degrees of flexibility, whereby movements of the partialseats are restricted elasto-mechanically with corresponding springstiffnesses. It is thus possible that the person sits stably when itcomes to larger movements of the partial seats; however greatflexibility, especially locally instable statuses develop around abalanced position, which are balanced by means of corresponding naturalposition control cycles of the sitting person.

In other exemplary implementations of the seat device, the suspensionshave a first partial seat elastic bearing and a second partial seatelastic bearing, which are arranged one after the other along thelongitudinal direction and have a third partial seat elastic bearingarranged adjacent to the first and second partial seat elastic bearing.Partial seat elastic bearing can also refer to a rubber bearing and/or aspiral spring. The individual partial seat elastic bearings can beidentical or different, e.g. in length, shape and/or elasticity. Athree-point support develops here, which allows for flexibility,restricted against the corresponding spring stiffnesses, in alltranslational as well as rotatory degrees of flexibility. It is thuspossible to assign the three partial seat elastic bearings to thepartial seats such that the afore-described desirable instable statusesdevelop for certain movements of the person.

In other exemplary implementations of the seat device, the three partialseat elastic bearings of the suspensions are arranged adjacent to eachother. Thus, the two partial seats can be supported such that, in caseof a rocking movement of the person to the front and back, a bearingreaction force that allows the person to open and close his/her legseasily develops at the partial seats; this provokes the afore-describedbalancing reactions of the person and eventually provides comfortablesitting.

In other exemplary implementations of the seat device, the suspensionshave a fourth partial seat elastic bearing, whereby the third partialseat elastic bearing and the fourth partial seat elastic bearing arearranged one after the other along the longitudinal direction. By meansof the additional partial seat elastic bearing, stiffness can bemodified such that the afore-described bearing reaction force is lower.

In other exemplary implementations of the seat device, the third and thefourth partial seat elastic bearings are arranged at a distance fromeach other, which is smaller than the distance between the first and thesecond partial seat elastic bearings. By means of a correspondingdifference of distance between the partial seat elastic bearings, thebearing reaction force during the person's rocking movement to the frontand back can be set or adjusted such that this represents a measuresuitable for comfortable sitting.

In other exemplary implementations of the seat device, the partial seatelastic bearings are arranged such that they form a triangle, arectangle or preferably a trapezium. The characteristics of thesuspensions can be selected or modified by means of the arrangement.

The number of partial seat bearings per partial seat is preferably three(2+1), more preferably four (2+2) or can also be more than four.

In other exemplary implementations of the seat device, the partial seatelastic bearings of the respective partial seat are arranged inclineddownwards pointing away from each other. This arrangement, i.e. inclineddownwards pointing away from each other, results in a stabilizingcharacteristic of the suspensions, whereby instability consciouslyperceived by the person can be reduced. The incline or a correspondingangle of the partial seat elastic bearing to a vertical axis of the seatdevice can be selected such that the actual instability of thesuspension is no longer consciously felt by the person, but the naturalposition control of the person still results in the afore-describedbalancing or adjusting movements; this subconsciously triggers thefeeling of especially comfortable sitting.

In other exemplary implementations of the seat device, at least one ofthe partial seat elastic bearings is designed as a partial seat springleg. The tractive and shearing forces developing when supporting theperson can be managed and taken in by means of the spring leg.

In other exemplary implementations of the seat device, the partial seatspring leg has a spring rod with an upper and a lower spring stop,between which an upper elastic spring and a lower elastic spring arearranged, between which a central spring stop is arranged slidable inthe longitudinal direction with reference to the spring rod. Optionally,the central spring stop can be spring-supported movably with referenceto the upper or lower spring stop. In this connection, elastic springcan refer to a spring device that brings spring forces to relativemovements of the spring stop with reference to the upper and/or lowerspring stop, e.g. an elastomer spring or a spiral spring.

In other exemplary implementations of the seat device, the centralspring stop is wobbling relative to the spring rod. Not onlytranslational movements relative to the other spring stops, but also thewobbling movements can be spring-damped by means of the partial seatspring leg. Elastic springs can also have damping characteristics,especially if they have been designed as material springs or elastomersprings.

In other exemplary implementations of the seat device, the centralspring stop is discoid with a recess or an opening, whereby the springrod reaches into the recess or through the opening. The spring rod canbe put through the recess or the opening of the discoid central springstop, whereby the central spring stop is movable relative to the springrod and can be controlled using the same.

In other exemplary implementations of the seat device, the upper springstop is associated with one of the partial seats. The bearing forcesrequired for supporting a person can be transferred to the partial seatsby means of the upper spring stop.

In other exemplary implementations of the seat device, the centralspring stop is associated with at least one element of the followinggroup: the base plate, one of the lever arms, a partial seat base platethat is or can be associated with the lever arms. The bearing forces canfurther be transferred to the rest of the seat device via the centralspring stop. A spring-damping behavior develops between the upper springstop and the central spring stop; this mainly corresponds to a rubberbearing. Thus with the spring leg, it is also possible, e.g. in case ofan intense back and forth and/or to and fro rocking of the personbetween the lower spring stop and the central spring stop, to transfertractive forces onto the partial seats in a spring-damped manner bymeans of the spring rod. As a result, even in case of an intense to andfro rocking of the person, a tractive force can be transferred onto thecorresponding partial seat in a spring-damped manner by means of thepartial seat spring leg.

In case of a seat device for supporting a sitting person, with a firstmovably supported partial seat for supporting the person and a secondpartial seat for supporting the person, which is movably supportedindependently of the first partial seat and which can be combined withthe first partial seat to form a whole seat, the task is also served byproviding a first spring damper device arranged below the first partialseat and a second spring damper device arranged below the second partialseat, whereby each of the spring damper devices has an elastic bodyarranged at the centre of the respective partial seat, by means of whichthe partial seats can be moved in a spring-damped manner along thevertical direction and can be swung around the longitudinal directionand the transverse direction. Thus, the person or the respective half ofthe person's body can be supported with at least three degrees offlexibility. This also results in the afore-described positive sittingfeel.

In other exemplary implementations of the seat device, the elastic bodyis made up of an elastic material, rubber, a spiral spring and/or anelastomer. As a result, the elastic body can be implemented easily.

In other exemplary implementations of the seat device, the elastic bodyis filled with gas, liquid or another type of rubber and/or elastomer.As a result, a characteristic, especially spring stiffness in at leastone of the degrees of flexibility, can be set by means of the filling,which can e.g. be under pressure.

In other exemplary implementations of the seat device, the elastic bodyis designed to be long, cylindrical, rectangular, triangular ortrapeziform. Different spring stiffnesses can be selected or set fordifferent degrees of flexibility by means of the shape of the elasticbody.

In case of a seat device for supporting a sitting person, with a firstmovably supported partial seat for supporting the person and a secondpartial seat for supporting the person, which is movably supportedindependently of the first partial seat and which can be combined withthe first partial seat to form a whole seat, the task is also served byproviding, for each of the partial seats, an incline adjustment devicefor setting an incline of the respective partial seat running along thelongitudinal direction; providing every partial seat with a first bar(swivel arm) swivel-supported around a swivel axis running along thetransverse direction and associated with the partial seat and aneccentric collaborating with the bar (swivel arm) andtwistably-supported around an axis of rotation running along thetransverse direction. As a result, inclines of the partial seats can beset by means of the associated bars (swivel arms) and the associatedeccentrics. For this, the respective eccentric can be set or rotatedaccordingly.

In other exemplary implementations of the seat device, the lever armrepresents the swivel axis and the axis of rotation. The bar (swivelarm) is associated with the lever arm with a tilting movement and theeccentric is associated with the lever arm with a rotating movement.

In other exemplary implementations of the seat device, the partial seatbase plate has the bar or the swivel arm or the bar forms a swivel armfor setting the incline. Movements of the bar or the swivel arm can bedirectly transferred onto the partial seat base plate, whereby a settingof the bar or the swivel arm directly results in a setting of acorresponding incline of the partial seat base plate.

In other exemplary implementations of the seat device, the eccentric orthe bar (swivel arm) or the bar (swivel arm) and the eccentric can beblocked. Thus, mobility of the bar or of the swivel arm can berestricted in a desired incline by means of the eccentric. This selectedor set incline of the bar or of the swivel arm and/or of the relevantpartial seat can be blocked so that an inadvertent resetting oradjustment of the incline is not possible when the person is sitting.

In other exemplary implementations of the seat device, the eccentric isdesigned as a polygon, whereby the sides of the polygon have a differentdistance to the axis of rotation. It is thus possible to allow certainadjustable inclines by means of the polygon or the different distancesto the axis of rotation.

In other exemplary implementations of the seat device, a stop surface ofthe bar or of the swivel arm can be created flush to one of the sidesfor setting the incline. The eccentric can be rotated around the axis ofrotation such that the swivel arm stops flush at one of the sides of thepolygons, whereby an especially good force transfer and a definite angleof inclination of the swivel arm develop relative to the lever arm.

In other exemplary implementations of the seat device, a first stop isprovided in a first direction for limiting a swinging movement of therespective partial seat around the second swivel axis. By means of thefirst stop, a rocking movement of the person to the front can belimited, whereby slipping down or tipping of the person from the seatdevice can be avoided safely.

In other exemplary implementations of the seat device, a second stop isprovided in a second direction for limiting a swinging movement of therespective partial seat around the second swivel axis. The swingingmovement can thus be, alternatively and/or additionally, limited also inthe opposite direction, e.g. to prevent the person from tippingbackwards.

In other exemplary implementations of the seat device, the first stop orthe second stop or the first and the second stop are associated with thelever arm. By means of this association, corresponding torques and/orforces required for limiting the swinging movement can be transferredfrom the stop onto the lever arm and thus onto the correspondingassociated partial seat.

In other exemplary implementations of the seat device, for limiting theswinging movement of the respective partial seat around the secondswivel axis, the first stop or the second stop or the first and thesecond stop of every partial seat collaborate with a base plate, wherebythese hit the respective base plate for limiting. The torques and/orforces required for limiting are transferred via the base plate.

In other exemplary implementations of the seat device, each of the pivotbearing spring devices is associated with one of the base plates. Withthe association of the pivot bearing spring devices with the base platesand the association of the stops with the corresponding lever arm, therespective pivot bearing spring device can be limited by means of thestop or blocked on reaching the stop. Thereby, the pivot bearing springdevices can be bridged or taken out of operation on reaching therespective stop.

In other exemplary implementations of the seat device, each of the pivotbearing spring devices has a stop plate associated with thecorresponding lever arm, which collaborates with the respective baseplate for limiting the swinging movement. By means of the stop plates,the pivot bearing spring devices can be blocked and/or bridged onreaching the stops. The forces and/or torques required for limiting theswinging movement of the respective partial seat can be transferredbetween the respective base plate, the stop plate and the respectivelever arm.

In other exemplary implementations of the seat device, the stop platesare, in the unloaded condition of the seat device, at a distance fromthe base plate and in the loaded condition of the seat device, they areat a smaller distance from the base plate or hit the same. Thus,spring-damped sitting can be implemented by means of the pivot bearingspring devices in spite of the stop.

In other exemplary implementations of the seat device, in the loadedcondition, the stop plates form a floating bearing together with therespective base plate. The desired spring-elastic support of the partialseat is implemented based on the degree of flexibility of the floatingbearing in spite of the stop plate.

In other exemplary implementations of the seat device, the stop platesfor forming the floating bearing are designed wedge-shaped, whereby thefirst stop surface of the first stop or the second stop surface of thesecond stop or both stop surfaces border on a wedge tip that forms acontact surface of the floating bearing. The stop plates can form aseesaw supported on the corresponding wedge tip, whereby the wedge tip,for forming the floating bearing, can form a slide bearing with the baseplate in a relatively slidable manner. The wedge tip can e.g. have ablunt angle, whereby the swinging movement of the respective partialseat can be limited in both directions. Alternatively, it is alsopossible to design the wedge tip with a sharp angle, so that only onestop surface develops, i.e. limitation in only one swinging direction.

The task is also served with a couch device, comprising a seat deviceaccording to one of the afore-mentioned forms of implementation withcomponents that support at least the pelvis, the upper body and/or thehead of a person in a lying or sitting position. The term seat device,as used here, also includes the term couch device. This results in theafore-described advantages. Preferably, the legs and/or arms of theperson can be supported or seat-supported as described above.

In a preferred form of implementation, the seat device is a wheelchair.

In other exemplary implementations of the seat device, it has at leastone sensor for determining the position of individual moving partsrelative to the device. The position and/or the angle of body parts ofthe supported person can be determined directly or indirectly by meansof the position of moving parts. For instance, the (at least one) sensorcan be associated with at least one moving part of the seat device, e.g.to one or both seat shells, partial seats, suspensions, partial leverarms, pivot bearings, bars, back rest, head rest, back rest and/or headrest joints, arm rests, etc. Thus, the position or the angle of bodyparts such as pelvis, thighs, spine, neck, knees, arms, legs, etc. canbe determined directly or indirectly. Preferably, the sensors determinethe position of the pelvis and/or of the torso of the supported person,especially in a horizontal and/or vertical plane.

Since the supported person takes up the natural position suitable forhim/her depending on the situation (resting, working, moving) thanks tothe many degrees of flexibility of the seat device, damaged postures canbe analyzed by the sensors in these situations. The device can then beset to compensate these damaged postures, e.g. by restricting certaindegrees of flexibility and/or bearing deflections,exchange/fixing/adjustment of elastic bearings, and the result can beverified by the sensors. The sensors can also inform the supportedperson about the damaged postures, e.g. acoustically and/or visually.

Moreover, loss of control of the supported person can be quicklydetected by the sensors, e.g. when the person falls asleep, in case ofunconsciousness, in case of symptoms of an illness or in case of ahandicapped or ill person in a wheelchair or on a medical seat/couchdevice.

Also, the position and/or angle information measured by the (at leastone) sensor can be fed to a control device, e.g. a computer device,which, for instance, influences the control of a vehicle such as a car,a motorcycle, a powered wheelchair, an airplane, a boat, etc. or takesit over completely.

The position and/or angle information determined by the sensors,especially about the pelvis and/or the torso of the supported person,can be preferably used to control at least one of the followingcharacteristics of the seat device: the degrees of flexibility, thedeflection limitation, the damping characteristics.

If the seat device is part of a vehicle, then the position and/or angleinformation determined by the (at least one) sensor, especially aboutthe pelvis and/or the torso, can be preferably used to control at leastone of the following characteristics of the vehicle: the speed, thelateral inclination angles, the damping, the response behavior ofbrakes, acceleration regulators, e.g. accelerator and/or steeringdevices such as steering wheel, control stick, joystick.

Accordingly, besides seat devices equipped with sensors, especiallychairs, couches, wheelchairs, vehicle chairs/couches, this inventionalso relates to processes using these sensor devices, in which thesensor information conveyed by the movably supported person preferablycontrols characteristics of the seat, the couch and/or of the vehicle.

In exemplary implementations, the seat device from the invention can bea fixed or movable part of a vehicle such as a car, motorcycle,airplane, boat, bicycle, wheelchair, etc. Preferably, the seat devicecomprises partial seats with the afore-described partial seat elasticbearings, especially designed with the afore-described partial seatspring legs with spring rod and spring stops, preferably with positionand angle sensor(s), preferably for the control of vehiclecharacteristics like damping, engine control, braking action, steering,etc.

In an exemplary form of implementation, in which the seat device or apart thereof is a “movable” part of a vehicle, the seat device orpreferably only parts thereof are “carried” by the person to besupported outside the vehicle, i.e. fixed to the person within the scopeof a piece of clothing. For example, the seat shells with or withoutsuspensions, elastic bearings, bars, swivel arms, lever arms, pivotbearings, etc. as well as other parts of the seat device that are notdirectly associated with the partial seats, such as back-, neck- and/orhead rest, can be carried by the person e.g. with a relatively rigid andtight fit of the seat shells, by connecting with aids such as belts oras part of clothing such as trousers, suits, etc. The person to besupported can thus himself/herself carry the seat shells or rather thepartial seats and connects them, when getting into or out of thevehicle, with the vehicle or another part of the seat device alreadyinstalled in or on the vehicle. The carried seat vehicle or partsthereof can then, in emergencies, facilitate a faster exit after beingunlocked from one or multiple quick or emergency locks, since it doesnot hinder the exit unlike permanently installed “bucket seats”. It canalso serve as mechanical protection, e.g. for legs, hips, pelvis as wellas back, neck, arms, head (depending on the equipment) to avoid injuriesin the event of accidents, e.g. accidents of cars, bicycles, boats andairplanes.

Other advantages, features and details can be found below, whereby atleast one exemplary implementation has been described in detail—ifnecessary, with reference to the drawings. Described and/or drawnfeatures are, themselves or in any logical combination, the object ofthe invention, sometimes also independent from the claims, and can alsobe the object of one or more separate invention(s). Identical, similarand/or functionally similar parts are designated with the samereferences.

FIGURES

FIG. 1 a three-dimensional view of a seat device diagonally and from topand rear;

FIG. 2 a rear view of the seat device illustrated in FIG. 1;

FIG. 3 a lateral view of the seat device illustrated in FIGS. 1 and 2;

FIG. 4 a rear view of another seat device;

FIG. 5 a rear view of another seat device;

FIG. 6 a detailed view of a partial seat spring leg of a suspension of apartial seat of a seat device, whereby the partial seat spring leg isillustrated in total three statuses;

FIG. 7 a lateral view of an incline adjustment device of a partial seatof a seat device;

FIG. 8 a swivel arm of an incline adjustment device similar to theincline adjustment device illustrated in FIG. 7; illustrated in totalthree different inclines;

FIG. 9 a partial rear view of a partial seat of another seat device witha stop for limiting a swinging movement of the partial seat;

FIG. 10 a detailed view of the partial seat, illustrated in FIG. 9, of astop plate with a first stop

FIG. 11 a detailed view similar to the detailed view illustrated in FIG.10, whereby the stop plate has a second stop;

FIG. 12 a detailed view similar to that in FIGS. 10 and 11, whereby thestop plate has a first and a second stop;

FIG. 13 a lateral view of another seat device with a back rest and ahead rest;

FIG. 14 a lateral view of a seat device similar to that illustrated inFIG. 13, whereby an arm rest is provided in addition;

FIG. 15 a lateral view of another seat device similar to thatillustrated in FIGS. 13 and 14, whereby the arm rest is associated witha base plate of the seat device;

FIG. 16 another lateral view of a seat device with a head rest and aback rest;

FIG. 17 another lateral view of a seat device with an arm rest, a backrest and a head rest;

FIG. 18 another lateral view of a seat device with an arm rest, a backrest and a head rest;

FIG. 19 a lateral view of another seat device with an arm rest;

FIG. 20 a lateral view of another seat device with a combined u-shapedback/arm rest;

FIG. 21 a lateral view of another seat device similar to thatillustrated in FIG. 20 with a differently attached combined back/armrest;

FIG. 22 a lateral view of another seat device similar to thatillustrated in FIGS. 20 and 21 with a differently attached combinedback/arm rest; and

FIG. 23 a lateral view of another seat device similar to thatillustrated in FIG. 20-22 with a differently attached combined u-shapedback/arm rest.

FIG. 1 illustrates a three-dimensional view diagonally, from top andrear of a seat device 1 for supporting a sitting person, who is notillustrated in detail. The seat device 1 has a first partial seat 101with a first seat shell 3 and a second partial seat 103 with a secondseat shell 5. The partial seats 101 and 103 have an ergonomic shape andserve for supporting ischial tuberosities as well as thighs of a sittingperson. The seat shells 3 and 5 or the partial seats 101 and 103 canmainly be structured as mirror images of each other, so that adescription for only one of the partial seats is equally applicable forthe corresponding partial seat arranged opposite to it, unless otherwisedescribed explicitly.

For supporting the first seat shell 3 of the first partial seat 101, afirst suspension 105 and for supporting the second seat shell 5 of thesecond partial seat 103, a second suspension 107 is provided. The seatshells 3 and 5 are associated with the suspensions 105 and 107 by meansof a lateral joint plate 7. The joint plate 7 can be arranged optionallyand has bearing slots of the suspensions 105 or 107. It is possible todesign the joint plate 7 as one piece connected with the respective seatshell 3 or 5, e.g. by means of injection molding. Each of thesuspensions 105 and 107 has a lateral buffer mechanism 9, 11 as well asa medial buffer mechanism 15, 17. The lateral joint plates 7 areassociated with the buffer mechanisms 9, 11. The medial buffermechanisms 15, 17 are associated with the seat shells 3 and 5 of thepartial seats 101 and 103 by means of an also optional medial jointplate 13. The medial joint plates 13 can also be one-piece parts of therelevant seat shells 3 and 5.

The buffer mechanisms 9, 11, 15, 17 are partial seat elastic bearings,which can e.g. be designed as rubber bearings. It is however alsopossible to use other springs instead of the rubber bearings, e.g.spiral springs.

The lateral buffer mechanisms 9, 11 can have a first partial elasticbearing and a second partial elastic bearing. The respective medialbuffer mechanisms 15, 17 can have a third partial elastic bearing and afourth partial elastic bearing. It is possible to provide only the thirdpartial elastic bearing instead of the third and the fourth partialelastic bearing, whereby a triangular arrangement of the partial elasticbearings is developed and the respective third partial elastic bearingsof the suspensions 105 and 107 of the partial seats 101 and 103 arearranged adjacent to each other.

As illustrated in FIG. 1, the third partial elastic bearing and thefourth partial elastic bearing, i.e. the medial buffer mechanisms 15,17, are provided, which are also arranged adjacent to each other. Thefour partial elastic bearings of the buffer mechanisms 15, 17 as well as9, 11 are arranged trapeziform to each other according to theillustration in FIG. 1.

It is also observed that the four partial elastic bearings are arrangedpointing diagonally downwards and pointing away from each other relativeto a vertical axis of the seat device, which has not been illustrated indetail. Thus by means of the suspensions 105 and 107, a spring-dampedsuspension of the seat shells 3 and 5 is developed with total sixdegrees of flexibility. The angle of the partial elastic bearingspointing away from each other can be selected such that a negligibleinstability of the seat shells 3 and 5 is still developed when a personsits on the seat device 1. As a result, an especially relaxed sitting ofthe person, who is not illustrated in detail, is facilitated by means ofthe suspensions 105 and 107.

The bearing forces occurring when the person sits are transferred ontothe partial seat elastic bearings via the seat shells 3 and 5 of thepartial seats 101 and 103, especially via the lateral joint plates 7 aswell as the medial joint plates 13. The partial seat elastic bearings orthe buffer mechanisms 9, 11 as well as 15 and 17 transfer the forcesfurther onto a base plate 19 in a spring-damped manner. The base plates19 are associated with lever arms 109. Each of the lever arms 109 has afirst partial lever arm 111 as well as a second partial lever arm 113,whereby the first partial lever arm 111 forms a lateral support 21 andthe second partial lever arm 113 forms a medial support 23. The medialsupports 23 or the second partial lever arms 113 of the lever arms 109are arranged adjacent to each other.

The partial seats 101 and 103 are associated with a pivot bearing springdevice 115 via the lever arms 109.

In FIG. 1 a longitudinal direction of the seat device 1 is indicated bymeans of a first arrow 117 and a transverse direction of the seat device1 is indicated by means of a second arrow 119.

The lever arms 109 or the associated partial seats 101 and 103 areslidably supported by means of the pivot bearing spring device 115,namely with a first spring stiffness around a first swivel axis runningin the longitudinal direction and with a second spring stiffness arounda second swivel axis running in the transverse direction. In order tofacilitate the different spring stiffnesses, a first elastic bearing 121as well as a second elastic bearing 123 are associated with each of thelever arms 109. The elastic bearings 121 and 123 can be designed asrubber bearings. It is however also possible to provide spiral springsinstead of the rubber bearings. The first elastic bearing 121 can havelateral base buffer 25. The second elastic bearing 123 can have a medialbase buffer 27, whereby the medial base buffers of the respectivepartial seats 101 and 103 are arranged adjacent to each other.

The elastic bearings 121 and 123 are arranged adjacent to each other,seen in the direction of the arrow 119, i.e. in the transverse directionof the seat device 1. With this, the second swivel axis runs through theelastic bearings 121 and 123 that are arranged adjacent to each other.The first swivel axis along the direction of the first arrow 117, i.e.in longitudinal direction, runs between the elastic bearings 121 and123. It is evident that different spring stiffnesses develop in thiscase, whereby a swinging movement around the second swivel axis, whichcorresponds to a rocking of the person or of the partial seats 101 and103 to the front and back, counteracts a lesser spring stiffness of theelastic bearings 121 and 123 as compared to a swinging movement aroundthe first swivel axis. A swinging movement of the partial seats 101 and103 or of the associated lever arms 109 corresponds to a rocking of theperson sitting on the seat device 1 to the right and left. As a result,rocking to the right and left can be limited with the higher springstiffness; this degree of flexibility is thus facilitated to the sittingperson and still, comparatively good safety or a corresponding feelingof safety is provided.

The partial lever arms 111 and 113 are angled and have bearing slots 125for the elastic bearings 121 and 123 at their ends pointing downwards,seen in the alignment of FIG. 1.

Corresponding counter bearings are formed by means of base plates 29,which are associated with the first elastic bearing 121 and the secondelastic bearing 123 for receiving or transferring the bearing forces.

The base plate 29 of the first partial seat 101 as well as the baseplate 29 of the second partial seat 103 are together associated with ajoint plate 31. The joint plate extends in the direction of the secondarrow 119, i.e. in the transverse direction of the seat device 1. Forsupporting the seat device 1 on a base that is not illustrated indetail, e.g. a floor, the joint plate 31 is associated, approximately atthe centre, to a chair leg 33 with total five support surfaces. Theassociation of the joint plate 31 to the chair leg 33 can bealternatively and/or additionally implemented by means of a rotaryspring damping device, e.g. a gas spring 127, whereby the seat device 1has the functionality of a swivel chair. The gas spring 127 can beoperated by means of an control lever 129, e.g. in order to implement aheight adjustment by opening and closing a discharge valve of the gasspring 127, which has not been illustrated in detail.

FIG. 2 illustrates a rear view of the seat device 1 illustrated inFIG. 1. FIG. 3 illustrates a lateral view of the seat device 1illustrated in FIG. 1 and FIG. 2. The following refers to FIG. 1-3. Thebase plates 29 of the partial seats 101 and 103 are associated with thejoint plate 31 by means of a pivot bearing 35. The pivot bearing 35 canbe designed as a pivot floating bearing, i.e. without the use of ballbearing devices. By means of the pivot bearing 35, the partial seats 101and 103 can be twisted around an axis of rotation 39, which has e.g.been drawn on the left in FIG. 2. In order to stop a correspondingrotation around the axis of rotation 39, a braking mechanism 37 isprovided for every partial seat 101 and 103. The braking mechanism 37can be set by means of a setscrew 71, e.g. by setting a correspondingfriction coefficient between the braking mechanism 37 and a brakingsurface 131 of the joint plate 31. It is possible to design the brakingsurface 131 as circularly curved, whereby a constant braking forcedevelops during a rotation of the partial seats 101 and 103 around therespective axis of rotation 39. Alternatively and/or additionally, it isalso possible to design the braking surfaces 131 in a shape other thancircular, whereby it is e.g. possible to facilitate a progressivebraking action, e.g. in case of correspondingly larger twist anglesaround a neutral position of the partial seats 101 and 103.

A central support axis 41 of the partial seats 101 and 103 is drawn onthe right near the axis of rotation 39. The central support axis 41 canbe understood as a line of action of force of ischial tuberosities of aperson sitting on the seat device 1. It is evident that the centralsupport axis 41 is arranged at a distance from the axis of rotation 39and is located further inside with reference to the seat device 1. It isalso observed in FIG. 2 that the central support axis 41 is arrangedaxis-symmetrically to the suspension 105 or 107, whereby a moment oftilt of the respective seat shells 3 and 5 develops when the personsits. For the first seat shell 3, illustrated on the left in FIG. 2, themoment of tilt acts in the direction of a third arrow 133 and for thesecond seat shell 5, illustrated on the right in FIG. 2, in thedirection of a fourth arrow 135. For supporting this moment of tilt, themedial buffer mechanisms 15, 17 are dimensioned smaller than the lateralbuffer mechanisms 9, 11.

With this, a person sitting on the seat shells 3 and 5 of the seatdevice 1 must make a balancing movement against the moments of tiltindicated with the arrows 133 and 135; this is no longer realizedconsciously after a short time of sitting and still decisivelycontributes to especially comfortable sitting.

By means of the rotary-supported gas spring 127, the partial seats 101and 103 that are associated with the joint plate 31 can be twistedrelative to the chair leg 33 around a central axis 43 of the seat device1 drawn in FIG. 2.

In the lateral view in FIG. 3, axes 45-51 are drawn for explaining thearrangement of the partial elastic bearings of the buffer mechanisms 9,11, 15 and 17. The axes 45-51 can e.g. refer to longitudinal axes ofcorresponding rubber bearings of the partial elastic bearings of thesuspension 105 or 107, which do not lie in the image plane of FIG. 3.The first suspension 105 is visible in FIG. 3, whereby lateral anteriorbuffer 9 has a lateral anterior longitudinal axis 45, a lateralposterior buffer mechanism 11 has a lateral posterior longitudinal axis47, a medial anterior buffer mechanism 15 has a medial anteriorlongitudinal axis and a medial posterior buffer mechanism 17 has amedial posterior longitudinal axis. It is observed that the longitudinalaxes 51 and 49 have a smaller distance than the longitudinal axes 47 and45. Moreover, the longitudinal axes 51 and 49 lie between thelongitudinal axes 47 and 45. The longitudinal axes 45-51 illustrated inFIG. 3 refer to projections on the image plane of FIG. 3. Thelongitudinal axes 45-51 are at a solid angle from each other and divergedownwards, seen in the alignment of FIG. 1-3. It is possible that thelongitudinal axes 49 and 51 of the medial buffer mechanisms 15 and 17coincide, whereby only one of the buffer mechanisms is provided so thatthe buffer mechanisms 9, 11 and 15 are arranged triangularly.

A bar 53 is associated with the partial elastic bearings or the buffermechanisms 9, 11, 15, 17 for the transfer of bearing forces; this barhas a bearing slot 137 for every partial elastic bearing or buffermechanism 9, 11, 15, 17. The bar 53 can be tightly joint with thepartial lever arms 111 and 113 of the lever arms 109 by means of theholes 55 and a bolt 57 gripping through the holes. For this, the bar 53can have a t-shaped cross-section, whereby a downward-pointing,centrally arranged rib of the t-shaped cross-section can be arrangedbetween the partial lever arms 111 and 113 and can be fixed by means ofthe holes 55 and the bolt 57. A cotter pin 59 can be provided in orderto secure the bolt 57.

An incline can be set along the longitudinal direction of the seatshells 3 and 5 of the partial seats 101 and 103, which has beenindicated with the first arrow 117, by means of a screw 61. For this,the bar can be rotary-supported around the bolt 57, whereby for settingthe incline or the element angle, the downward-projecting rib of the bar53 can be fixed in a frictionally engaged and/or force-fit mannerbetween the partial lever arms 111 and 113. For this, the partial leverarms 111 and 113 can be pulled together by means of the screw 61 untilthey abut on the rib of the bar 53 in a frictionally engaged and/orforce-fit manner.

The partial lever arms 111 and 113 have a number of holes 63, into whichthe screw 61 can be inserted. For presetting the incline, the screw 61can be optionally inserted into one of the holes 63, whereby the screw61 first forms a stop for the swinging movement of the bar 53 around thebolt 57. For each of the holes 63, a different incline of the seatshells 3 and 5 of the partial seats 101 and 103 develops when the bar 53hits the screw 61. In the stopping position, the afore-described forceand/or friction closure can be generated by tightening the screw 61.

For limiting the angle of rotation of the pivot bearing 35, bolts 65 canbe provided, which can be inserted into the holes 67 of the joint plate31. For this, the joint plate 31 can have a number of holes 67 lying ona radius, into which a corresponding bolt 65 can be inserted dependingon the desired swivel angle of the partial seats 101 and 103 around theaxis of rotation 39. For limiting the angle of rotation, the base plates29 have a protrusion 69, which forms a stop, collaborating with the bolt67, for limiting the swivel angle.

For fixing the bar 53 to the partial levers 111 and 113, these can haveholes 73, through which the bolt 57 grips.

FIG. 4 illustrates a rear view of another seat device 1. According to apartial aspect of the invention, as evident from FIG. 4, the pivotbearing spring devices 115, the pivot bearings 35 as well as the leverarms 109 can be waived. The seat shells 3 and 5 can be directlyassociated with the joint plate 31 by means of the suspensions 105 and107. Another difference is that the base plate 19 of the suspensions 105and 107 does not have a bar 53 or a t-shaped cross-section and is or canbe directly associated with the joint plate two-dimensionally.

FIG. 5 illustrates another rear view of the seat device 1. According toanother partial aspect of the invention, in comparison with theillustration in FIG. 4, the pivot bearing 35 and the associated brakingmechanism 37 can still be provided for every partial seat 101 and 103.If necessary, similar to the illustration in FIG. 1-3, also a limitationof the swivel angle can be provided by means of the bolt 65, the holes67 and the protrusion 69 of the base plate 29.

FIG. 6 illustrates a detailed view of a suspension 105 similar to thesuspension 105 illustrated in FIG. 1. This is a detailed view of one ofthe partial elastic bearings, which has been designed as a partial seatspring leg 139 according to another partial aspect of the invention. Thepartial seat spring leg 139 is illustrated in FIG. 6 in total threedifferent positions.

The partial seat spring leg 139 has a spring rod 141 with an upperspring stop 143 and a lower spring stop 145. The spring stops 143 and145 are either associated with or are part of the spring rod 141.Moreover, the partial seat spring leg 139 has a central spring stop 147.The central spring stop 147 acts on both sides, whereby an upper elasticspring 149 is arranged between the upper spring stop 143 and the centralspring stop 147 and a lower elastic spring 151 is arranged between thecentral spring stop 147 and the lower spring stop 145.

The elastic springs 149 and 151 can e.g. refer to material springs suchas elastomer springs and/or rubber springs. It is however also possibleto design these as spiral springs, which can be loaded with pressure.

The elastic springs 149 and 151 have an opening, e.g. a centricdrilling, in which the spring rod 141 is arranged for controlling theelastic springs 149 and 151. It is observed that the central spring stop147 also has an opening, e.g. a drilling, through which the spring rod141 grips. The central spring stop 147 is thus to and fro-movablysupported along a longitudinal direction of the partial seat spring leg139, which has been indicated in FIG. 6 by means of a fifth arrow 153.

Either the central spring stop 147 and the upper spring stop 143 or thecentral spring stop 147 and the lower spring stop 145 or all threespring stops together can serve for feeding bearing forces into thepartial seat spring leg 139.

According to the illustration in FIG. 6, the lateral joint plate 7 isassociated with the upper spring stop 143 or has the upper spring stop143. The base plate 19 has the central spring stop 147 or is associatedwith the same. It is evident that the partial seat spring leg has anidentical shear and traction characteristic in case of an assumedidentical layout of the elastic springs 149 and 151. Accordingly, onlythe upper elastic spring 149 deforms, which is indicated in the centralillustration in FIG. 6 or the lower elastic spring 151 deforms, which isindicated in the lower illustration in FIG. 6. In the upper illustrationin FIG. 6, a neutral position of the partial seat spring leg 139 isillustrated, whereby the central spring stop 147 is located centrallybetween the other spring stops 143 and 145.

Alternatively and/or additionally, it is possible that the centralspring stop 147 is provided or supported at the spring rod 141 with awobbling movement. This results in further rotatory degrees offlexibility for supporting the central spring stop 147 according to thewobbling movement.

The upper spring stop 143 is associated with the correspondingassociated seat shell 3, 5 of the corresponding partial seat 101, 103 bymeans of the joint plate 4. The central spring stop 147 is associated,by means of the base plate 19, with the rest of the seat device 1,especially with the joint plate 31 and/or the base plate 29 and/or thepivot bearing spring device 115 and/or the partial lever arms 111, 113or one of the lever arms 109.

FIG. 7 illustrates a detailed view of an incline adjustment device 155for setting an incline of the seat shells 3 and 5 of the partial seats101 and 103, which runs along the longitudinal direction. According to apartial aspect of the invention, the incline adjustment device 155 hasan eccentric 157. It is observed that there are the lateral support 21of the first partial lever arm 111 and the medial support 23 of thesecond partial lever arm 113, between which the bar 53 grips. Theincline adjustment device has the afore-described holes 55, into whichthe bolt 57 can be inserted in order to form a pivot bearing for the bar53.

As a difference, according to the partial aspect of the invention, onlya single hole 63 is provided instead of the number of holes 63, intowhich the screw 61 can be engaged. Alternatively and/or additionally,the screw 61 can be designed only as a bearing pin. The eccentric 157 isrotary-supported by means of the screw 61 gripping through the hole 63.Here, the eccentric 157 is designed as an eccentric polygon, e.g. as asquare, whereby the screw 61 is arranged eccentrically such that it hasdifferent distances from lateral surfaces 159 of the eccentric polygon165.

FIG. 8 illustrates three different settings of the incline adjustmentdevice 155, whereby one of the lateral surfaces 159 flatly abuts on orhits a stop surface 161 of the bar 53. It is observed that differentinclines of the bar 53 can be set due to the different distances of aneccentric drilling 163 of the eccentric 157. Alternatively and/oradditionally, it is possible that the bar 53 that forms a swivel armand/or the eccentric 157 can be blocked, e.g. by means of the screw 61and/or by means of another screw as a replacement for the bolt 57. Inorder to hold the bolt 57, the bar 53 and the partial lever arms 111 and113 have corresponding holes 73 or drilling.

FIG. 9 illustrates a partial rear view of a first partial seat 101 of aseat device 1 similar to the seat device 1 in FIG. 1-3. According toanother partial aspect of the invention, a stop plate 167 is provided tolimit the swinging movement of the first partial seat 101 around thesecond swivel axis indicated with the second arrow 119. The stop plate167 acts as a limiter for the swinging movements around the secondswivel axis.

FIG. 10-12 illustrate different partial aspects of the invention, i.e.exemplary implementations of the stop plate 167 illustrated in a lateralview. As evident in FIGS. 10-12, the stop plate 167 is firmlyassociated, especially in a torque-proof manner, with the supports 21,23 or the partial lever arms 111, 113 of the lever arm 109. For this,the lever arm 109 as well as the stop plate 167 can have drillings 169,e.g. two drillings 169 arranged adjacent to each other, through whichcorresponding fasteners such as screws, bolts, rivets and/or similar canbe engaged for fixing the stop plate 167. For limiting the swingingmovement in a first direction, which is indicated in FIG. 10 with asixth arrow 171, the stop plate 167 has a first stop 173. The first stop173 acts together with the base plate 29 or can hit the base plate 29for limiting the swinging movement. The stop plate 167 is wedge-shapedand has a wedge tip 175, which forms, with the first stop 173, a sharpangle with reference to the rest of the stop plate 167. The wedge tip175 is arranged at a distance 177 from the base plate 29; FIG. 10illustrates the seat device 1 in an unloaded condition. In a loadedcondition, i.e. when a person is sitting on the first partial seat 101,the distance 177 can reduce, especially so much that the wedge tip 175is in an abutting contact with the base plate 29. Thereby, the stopplate 177 can form a floating bearing with the wedge tip 175, wherebythe wedge tip 175 is to and fro-movably supported relative to the baseplate and the wedge tip 175 illustrates a seesaw or the second swivelaxis or a swivel axis running parallel to the second swivel axis. It isevident that in case of a deflection of the first partial seat 101 inthe direction of the sixth arrow 171, this can be limited by means ofthe first stop 173, whereby the first stop 173 hits the base plate 29.

FIG. 11 illustrates, according to another partial aspect of theinvention, a lateral view of another stop plate 167, which unlike theillustration in FIG. 10, has a second stop 179 that is arranged like amirror image. The swinging movement around the second swivel axis in asecond direction, which is indicated in FIG. 11 with a seventh arrow181, can be limited by means of the second stop 179. As regards thefunction of the second stop 179, refer to the description of FIG. 10.

According to another partial aspect of the invention, FIG. 12illustrates a lateral view of a stop plate 167, which unlike theillustration in FIGS. 10 and 11, has a first stop 173 and a second stop179. The first stop 173 and the second stop 179 are arranged in a sharpangle to the right and left of the wedge tip 175. It is evident that, inthe neutral position of the seat device 1 illustrated in FIG. 12, thefirst stop 173 and the second stop 179 have different angles to asurface of the base plate 29. A differently advanced deflection of thefirst partial seat 101 in the first direction 171 indicated with thesixth arrow and in the second direction indicated with the seventh arrow181 take place according to the different angles.

As regards the function of the stops 173 and 179, refer to FIGS. 10 and11.

FIG. 13 illustrates a lateral view of another seat device 1 similar tothe seat device 1 illustrated in FIG. 5. The seat device 1 from FIG. 13has a back rest 75 and a head rest 77. The back rest 75 and the headrest 77 are pivot-movably associated with the joint plate 31 by means ofa base joint 79. The base joint 79 is associated with a base back joint83 by means of a base connecting piece 81. The base back joint 83pivot-movably supports a back part connecting piece 85 relative to thebase connecting piece 81. The back rest 75 and the head rest 77 areassociated with the back part connecting piece. The back rest 75 ispivot-movably associated with the back part connecting piece by means ofa back rest joint 87. The head rest 77 is pivot-movably associated witha head rest connecting piece 89 by means of a head rest joint 91,whereby the head rest connecting piece 89 is arranged between the headrest joint 91 and the back rest joint 87.

According to another partial aspect of the invention, FIG. 14illustrates another seat device 1 similar to the seat device 1illustrated in FIG. 13. This seat device 1 additionally has an arm rest93. The arm rest 93 is associated with an arm rest support 97 by meansof an arm rest joint 95. The arm rest support 97 is firmly associatedwith the back part connecting piece.

FIG. 15 illustrates another seat device 1 according to another partialaspect of the invention. The seat device 1 from FIG. 15 is structuredsimilar to the seat devices 1 from FIGS. 13 and 14. Only, the arm rest93 is directly associated with the base plate 19 by means of the armrest support 97, i.e. without the arm rest joint 95, whereby the armrest 93 is not supported by the suspension 105.

FIG. 16 illustrates another seat device 1, which is structured similarto the seat device 1 illustrated in FIG. 1-3. According to anotherpartial aspect of the invention, the seat device 1 from FIG. 16 has aback rest 75 and a head rest 77, which are arranged and supportedsimilar to the illustration in FIG. 13. Refer to the description of FIG.13.

FIG. 17 illustrates another seat device 1 similar to the illustration inFIG. 16, whereby the seat device 1 from FIG. 17 has, according toanother partial aspect of the invention, a back rest 75, a head rest 77as well as an arm rest 93; these are supported similar to theillustration in FIG. 14. Refer to the description of FIG. 14.

FIG. 18 illustrates another seat device 1, which is structured similarto the seat devices 1 from FIGS. 16 and 17. According to another partialaspect of the invention, the seat device 1 from FIG. 18 has a back rest75, a head rest 77 as well as an arm rest 93, which are fixed andsupported similar to the illustration in FIG. 15. Refer to thedescription of FIG. 15.

FIG. 19 illustrates another seat device 1, which is structured similarto the seat devices 1 from FIG. 1-3. According to another partial aspectof the invention, the seat device 1 from FIG. 19 has only an arm rest93, which is directly associated with the joint plate 31; thisassociation is implemented by means of the arm rest support 97 and thearm rest joint 95.

FIG. 20 illustrates another seat device 1, which is structured similarto the seat device 1 from FIG. 1-3. According to another partial aspectof the invention, a u-shaped arm and back support 99 is provided. Theu-shaped arm and back support is also a handle, whereby the personsitting on the seat device 1 can sit inside the U of the u-shaped armand back support 99. The association of the u-shaped arm and backsupport 99 is implemented pivot-movably by means of the arm rest joint95 relative to the arm rest support 97. The arm rest support 97 isfirmly associated with the joint plate 31.

FIG. 21 illustrates another seat device 1, which is structured similarto the seat device 1 from FIG. 1-3. According to another partial aspectof the invention, the association of the u-shaped arm and back support99 is implemented pivot-movably by means of the back rest joint 87 viathe back part connecting piece 85, pivot-movably via the base back joint83 via the base connecting piece 81, pivot-movably by means of the basejoint 79 with the joint plate 31.

FIG. 22 illustrates another seat device 1, which is structured similarto the seat device 1 from FIG. 21. According to another partial aspectof the invention, the only difference is that the base joint 79 is notassociated with the joint plate 31, but with the chair leg 33. Thus, theu-shaped arm and back support 99 does not move with any movements of thepartial seats 101 and 103.

FIG. 23 illustrates another seat device 1, which is structured similarto the seat device 1 from FIG. 22. According to another partial aspectof the invention, the arm rest joint 95 is provided for supporting theu-shaped arm and back support 99. The arm rest joint 95 is pivot-movablyassociated with the chair leg 33 by means of the arm rest support 97 andby means of the base joint 79.

All afore-described features of the seat device 1, if necessary withreference to FIG. 1-23, can be combined with other partial aspects ofthe invention. Moreover, all partial aspects can represent independentinventions.

REFERENCES 1 Seat device 93 Arm rest 3 First seat shell 95 Arm restjoint 5 Second seat shell 97 Arm rest support 7 Joint plate 99 Arm andback support 9 Lateral buffer mechanism 101 First partial seat 11Lateral buffer mechanism 103 Second partial seat 13 Medial joint plate105 First suspension 15 Medial buffer mechanism 107 Second suspension 17Medial buffer mechanism 109 Lever arm 19 Base plate 111 First partiallever arm 21 Lateral support 113 Second partial lever arm 23 Medialsupport 115 Pivot bearing spring device 25 Lateral base buffer 117 Firstarrow 27 Medial base buffer 119 Second arrow 29 Base plate 121 Firstelastic bearing 31 Joint plate 123 Second elastic bearing 33 Chair leg125 Bearing slot 35 Pivot bearing 127 Gas spring 37 Braking mechanism129 Control lever 39 Axis of rotation 131 Braking surface 41 Centralsupport axis 133 Third arrow 43 Central axis 135 Fourth arrow 45 Lateralanterior longitudinal axis 137 Bearing slot 47 Lateral posteriorlongitudinal axis 139 Partial seat spring leg 49 Medial anteriorlongitudinal axis 141 Spring rod 51 Medial posterior longitudinal axis143 Upper spring stop 53 Bar 145 Lower spring stop 55 Holes 147 Centralspring stop 57 Bolt 149 Upper elastic spring 59 Cotter pin 151 Lowerelastic spring 61 Screw 153 Fifth arrow 63 Holes 155 Incline adjustmentdevice 65 Bolt 157 Eccentric 67 Holes 159 Lateral surface 69 Protrusion161 Stop surface 71 Setscrew 163 Eccentric drilling 73 Holes 165Eccentric polygon 75 Back rest 167 Stop plate 77 Head support 169Drillings 79 Base joint 171 Sixth arrow 81 Base connecting piece 173First stop 83 Base back joint 175 Wedge tip 85 Back part connectingpiece 177 Distance 87 Back rest joint 179 Second stop 89 Head supportconnecting piece 181 Seventh arrow 91 Head support joint

1. Seat device (1) for supporting a sitting person, with: a firstmovably supported partial seat (101) for supporting the person, a secondpartial seat (103) for supporting the person, which is movably supportedindependently of the first partial seat (101) and which can be combinedwith the first partial seat to form a whole seat, characterized by thefact that for every partial seat (101, 103), a pivot bearing springdevice (115) with a first swivel axis running in a longitudinaldirection, around which the respective partial seat (101, 103) can bepivoted while sprung with a first spring stiffness, and a second swivelaxis running in a transverse direction, around which the respectivepartial seat (101, 103) can be pivoted while sprung with a second springstiffness, is provided, whereby the respective partial seat (101, 103)is associated with the respective pivot bearing spring device (115) bymeans of a lever arm (109).
 2. Seat device according to claim 1,characterized by the fact that each of the pivot bearing spring devices(115) has a first elastic bearing (121) and a second elastic bearing(123) arranged near the first elastic bearing (121), whereby the elasticbearings (121, 123) are arranged adjacent to each other such that thefirst swivel axis runs between the elastic bearings (121, 123) and thesecond swivel axis runs through the elastic bearings (121, 123).
 3. Seatdevice according to claim 1, characterized by the fact that the firstelastic bearing (121) is associated with a first partial lever arm (111)of the lever arm (109) and the second elastic bearing (123) isassociated with a second partial lever arm (113) of the lever arm (109).4. Seat device according to claim 1, characterized by the fact that forevery partial seat (101, 103), a pivot bearing (35) is provided forturning the partial seats (101, 103) around a third swivel axis runningin the vertical direction.
 5. Seat device according to claim 4,characterized by the fact that the respective pivot bearing (35) isarranged below the elastic bearing (121, 123) of the respective pivotbearing spring device (115).
 6. Seat device according to claim 4,characterized by the fact that the pivot bearings (35) associated withthe partial seats (101, 103) are associated with a common base plate(29).
 7. Seat device according to claim 6, characterized by the factthat the base plate (29) can be rotated, by means of a spring device,around an axis of rotation (39) running in the vertical direction, canbe adjusted in height along this axis and/or is spring-supported. 8.Seat device according to claim 1, characterized by the fact that thefirst partial seat (101) is relatively movably supported by means of afirst suspension (105) and the second partial seat (103) by means of asecond suspension (107), whereby each of the suspensions (105, 107) hasat least three partial seat elastic bearings.
 9. Seat device accordingto claim 8, characterized by the fact that the suspensions (105, 107)have a first partial seat elastic bearing and a second partial seatelastic bearing, which are arranged one after the other along thelongitudinal direction and have a third partial seat elastic bearingarranged adjacent to the first and second partial seat elastic bearing.10. Seat device according to claim 9, characterized by the fact that thethird partial seat elastic bearings of the suspensions (105, 107) arearranged adjacent to each other.
 11. Seat device according to claim 8,characterized by the fact that the suspensions (105, 107) each have afourth partial seat elastic bearing, whereby the third partial seatelastic bearing and the fourth partial seat elastic bearing are arrangedone after the other along the longitudinal direction.
 12. (canceled) 13.Seat device according to claim 8, characterized by the fact that thepartial seat elastic bearings are arranged such that they form atriangle, a rectangle or preferably a trapezium.
 14. Seat deviceaccording to claim 8, characterized by the fact that the partial elasticbearings of the respective partial seat (101, 103) are arranged inclineddownwards pointing away from each other.
 15. Seat device according toclaim 8, characterized by the fact that at least one of the partial seatelastic bearings is designed as a partial seat spring leg (139). 16.Seat device according to claim 15, characterized by the fact that thepartial seat spring leg (139) has a spring rod (141) with an upperspring stop (143) and a lower spring stop (145), between which an upperelastic spring (149) and a lower elastic spring (151) are arranged,between which a central spring stop (147) is arranged which is slidablein the longitudinal direction with reference to the spring rod (141).17. Seat device according to claim 16, characterized by the fact thatthe central spring stop (147) wobbles relative to the spring rod (141).18-20. (canceled)
 21. Seat device according to claim 1, characterized bya first spring damper device arranged below the first partial seat (101)and a second spring damper device arranged below the second partial seat(103), whereby each of the spring damper devices has an elastic bodyarranged at the centre of the respective partial seat (101, 103), bymeans of which the partial seats (101, 103) can be moved in aspring-damped manner along the vertical direction and can be pivotedaround the longitudinal direction and the transverse direction. 22-39.(canceled)
 40. Couch device, comprising a seat device (1) according toclaim 1 having components that support at least the pelvis, the upperbody and the head of a person in a lying position.